Apparatus for retailing shot



(No Model.)

Apparatus for Retailing Shot.

2 Sheets-Sheet 1'. M. S T 0 K E S.

Patented Sept. 2l,1880.

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NJEETERS. FMOYCLLITHOGRAPHER. WAsNINGmN. D. c.

(No Model.) 2Sheets--Sheet 2. M. STOKES.

Apparatus for Retailing Shot.

No. 232,378. Patented Sept. 21, I880.

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NFETERS, PNOTO-LITROGUFHER, WASHKNGTDN, D C.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MIOAJAH STOKES, OF HOUSTON, TEXAS.

APPARATUS FOR RETAlLlNG SHOT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 232,378, dated September 21, 1880,

(N0 model.)

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, MIcAJAH STOKES, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city of Houston, county of Harris, and State of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Retailing Shot, fully described and represented in the following specification and the accompanying drawings, forming a part of the same.

Shot for sporting purposes as prepared for the market is usually put up in bags containing twenty-five pounds each, and as the varieties are considerable in number, the retailer is obliged to keep on hand at least one bag of each variety, or of such varieties as his section of country demands.

Owing to the nature of the article, it has heretofore been customary to retail the shot from the original packages, simply opening the bag-mouth to permit the introduction of a scoop, or to empty a bag of each variety into as many stationary bins,from which the same are removed by a scoop as required. Either system provides not only an awkward mode of storing, but an inconvenient means for selling the same in small quantities, since, on account of the weight of the shot, it is necessary that the bulk or stock of the same shall remain where the quantity is stored, and that the small quantities to be retailed shall be transported, usually in a scoop, to the scale in which it is to be weighed.

The purpose of my invention is to avoid the inconvenience resulting from this mode of retailing shot; and the same consists in a receptacle or multiple bin the several compartments of which are provided with valves controlling exit-openings, whereby any desired quantity of shot, descending by gravity from the appropriate compartment, may be directed into the scale-pan of a scale without the necessity of lifting the receptacle or bin or any part of its contents.

The accompanying drawings illustrate the best mode of practically embodying my invention.

Figure 1 shows by a front elevation, Fi 2 by a side elevation, and Fig. 3 by a plan view, one embodiment of my invention.

To attain the greatest convenience in hand ling the shot it is preferable to construct the bin A so that it may rotate. The preferable form for the bin A is a circular one, as shown in Figs. 1 to 3, as it may then be divided by radial partitions 2 into any number of separate compartments or bins B. Each compartment thus formed has, at a suitable point near its front end, an exit-aperture, 3, through which the shot are to pass, and in order to secure their ready descent by gra ity the floor of each bin is inclined from the side walls toward this exitopening. (See Figs. 1, 2.)

Each opening 3 is provided with a controlling-valve, whereby the passage of the shot may be controlled. this valve is illustrated herein as consisting of a sliding plate, 4, provided with a circular opening, 5, which plate, when drawn forward by the pull 6, with which its front end is supplied, will have any portion or the whole of its said opening brought under the exit-opening 3, and thus form a passage for the shot; and by pushing this plate rearward the open ing may be closed. This plate form of valve is desirable because it will readily cut off the body of descending shot, and thus close the opening without the exertion of much power; but any other form of valve may be used.

The side walls of this bin A may be of any desired height, but will, preferably, be made so as to provide each compartment B with a cubical area sufficient to hold at least one bag of shot, and the number of such compartments, which will determine the size of the bin A, will be equal in number to that of the varieties most commonly sold, though it may be varied to adapt the apparatus to particular localities.

The compartments B may extend to the center of the bin, though it is preferable, as shown, to form central bins, X, by the circular partition O and radial partitions 5. bins may have conduct-pipes P, extending from them to near the edge of the bin A, the mouth ends of said pipes 1? being provided A good construction of These central.

with the slide-valve for controlling the exit of 5 the shot. This bin A is mounted upon a base, F, so as to rotate thereon. As shown, it is provided with a central shaft, S, that is stepped in a wall, 7, and with a series of wheels, 10, which run upon the face-plate R of the base. Any other means for providing for its rota tion, while affording aproper support for its weighty contents, may, however, be used.

This construction enables the bin to be rotated to bring the exit-aperture of any one of the compartments B or X to a given deliverypoint, where the base F is so shaped as to admit the frame of a scale, T so that the pan U of such scale may stand underthe said delivcry-point.

Any-form of scale may be combined with this bin Asuch as the clock-face balancesca-le T, (shown in Figs. 1 to 3,) or the lever-scale T, (shown in Fig. 4,) or, in fact, anyother structure that admits of adjustment so that its scalepan may underlie the said delivery-point.

This rotary bin affords a very advantageous apparatus, for the reason that it enables a large quantity of shot to be stored within a small compass, and its several compartments, numbered or otherwise provided with means to indicate the size of contents, to be readily brought into a position to deliver the contents be found to constitute not only a labor-saving machine, but a means for preserving the stock from loss in handling and deterioration from exposure.

What is claimed is 1. A revolving or rotating bin, A, having a number of compartments, B or X, each provided with an exitpassage controlled by a valve, which exit-passage extends beyond the base F, so that any compartment may deliver its contents into a single stationary receptacle placed outside of the bin and its base, substantiall y as described.

2. The combination, with a revolving or rotating bin, A, having a number of compartments, each provided with an exit-passage controlled by a valve, of a weighing-scale standing outside of .the bin and its base, whereby any one of the compartments may be brought into position to discharge its contents into the scale, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

M. STOKES.

Witnesses H. T. MUNSON, GEO. H. GRAHAM. 

